About Callebs LLC | Sports & Trophies
Our story ...
7 South Ohio Avenue in Wellston has been the region's locally-owned hometown source for sportswear, trophies, plaques, embroidery, Varsity Letterman jackets, custom t-shirts, tuxedo rentals, and so much more since 1986.
Originally founded as J.B. SPORTS SHOP by the late Jack Burns back in 1985, Jack moved across the street from 13 to 7 South Ohio Avenue a year after initially opening his business. J.B. SPORTS SHOP expanded into multiple product lines and services and became quite successful. Wellston's downtown was booming then and just about every storefront was open for business. It was said you couldn't find a parking spot on the weekend as merchants were busy serving their customers.
Jack decided to retire around 2001, selling the business to longtime Wellston residents Gary and Kathy Speraw. The business was renamed BRODIGAN'S SPORTS & TROPHIES, LLC. Contrary to popular belief, "Brodigan" wasn't Gary's last name and it wasn't Kathy's maiden name. The Speraws had two sons, Brody and Brogan, and BRODIGAN'S is a portmanteau (blending two equal words together to form a new one) of the first names of both children. And now you know.
Gary and his family continued to build the business for the next 23 years, firmly establishing his store as a mainstay in the downtown Wellston business district. In 2023, Gary had the opportunity to rejoin the workforce at Kenworth in Chillicothe, a job he worked until being laid off several decades ago -- the layoff that prompted him to buy the store in 2001 from Jack Burns. Gary put Brodigan's up for sale.
Rick and Ann-Marie Callebs, also longtime residents of Wellston, talked with Gary in early 2024 and eventually made an offer to purchase. A price was negotiated, papers were signed, and 7 South Ohio Avenue was rebranded for the third time as CALLEBS LLC | Sports & Trophies. The Callebs family officially took over on February 8th, 2024 and the official Grand Opening was about a month later on March 18th.
Gary and his family continued to build the business for the next 23 years, firmly establishing his store as a mainstay in the downtown Wellston business district. In 2023, Gary had the opportunity to rejoin the workforce at Kenworth in Chillicothe, a job he worked until being laid off several decades ago -- the layoff that prompted him to buy the store in 2001 from Jack Burns. Gary put Brodigan's up for sale.
Rick and Ann-Marie Callebs, also longtime residents of Wellston, talked with Gary in early 2024 and eventually made an offer to purchase. A price was negotiated, papers were signed, and 7 South Ohio Avenue was rebranded for the third time as CALLEBS LLC | Sports & Trophies. The Callebs family officially took over on February 8th, 2024 and the official Grand Opening was about a month later on March 18th.
We are excited to move forward as both a new business and an old trusted friend.
Our location and our services are firmly established and well-known, Gary and Kathy (Speraw) helped us tremendously with training on the equipment and the transition, and we have some new ideas, products, and services to bring to Wellston and southeast Ohio.
CALLEBS LLC | Sports & Trophies looks forward to offering quality products and services, continuing the tradition of local ownership, and helping rebuild the Downtown Wellston Business District.
